The time has come to stop the fruitless search for the ONE element to solve everything, and to come to the recognition that the technique of violin playing, and even more, the ART of violin playing, is the sum of a greater number of specific factors.
- Carl Flesch (1873-1944)
Left-hand techniques refer to all the techniques we teach students after establishing a proper left hand shape. Developing a wide range of these techniques for artistic playing takes years to fully master. This underscores the importance of introducing the foundational elements—including shifting, vibrato, and intonation—from the very beginning of instruction.
To succeed in this complex and long-term endeavor, it is crucial to continuously refine foundational skills of string playing while advancing through the teaching of left-hand techniques using a "spiral curriculum" approach. In this approach, techniques are initially introduced in simplified forms and revisited over months and years, gradually increasing in complexity and sophistication.
These instructional videos include explanations and exercises intended to teach a variety of left-hand techniques, drawing from a wide range of historical and modern teaching methods. These exercises are suitable for both individual lessons and group class settings.
Captions for all videos are available in the YouTube links provided next to each video.